The United
Steelworkers (USW) responded today to an update on its contract negotiations
with ArcelorMittal, released by ArcelorMittal USA (AMUSA) President and CEO
John Brett on Monday and posted to the company’s website.

In its own
communiqu

e released
this morning, the USW said that Brett’s summary is “missing details.”

The text of the
communiqu

e in full:

“In an effort to
appear reasonable and fair in an update distributed to reporters and posted
to the company’s website on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, ArcelorMittal USA
President and CEO John Brett summarized some of the economic terms in the
company’s most recent contract proposal.

“As always, ‘the
devil is in the details,’ and of course Brett doesn’t want to talk about
them. He also claims the offer meets the industry pattern, but what he
really means is that AMUSA’s offer ‘cherry-picks’ the industry pattern.

“The update
concludes by saying the company’s proposed contract reflects its desire to
protect customers, facilities, workers, and communities for the long term
but made no mention of the company’s persistent concessionary demands.

“Just a few months
ago, ArcelorMittal management insisted that its future viability depended
upon our committee accepting concessions that would cost individual
employees and retirees thousands of dollars per year with no wage increases.

“A few weeks ago,
Brett distributed a similar update that characterized the company’s scheme
to collect millions from current and future retirees by increasing their
health insurance premiums as ‘modest’ and, again, reflective of the
company’s focus on the ‘long-term prosperity of our operations, our people,
and our communities during both the good and bad times.’

“Even judging from
the company’s incomplete and misleading summary above, we have made clear
and significant progress toward our goal of negotiating fair contracts with
ArcelorMittal--not because of anything management has done--but thanks only
to the solidarity of union members at all of the company’s facilities and
the hard work and determination of our USW negotiating committee.

“Please remain
patient and focused on working safely. As long as we are united and stand
together, we will achieve the fair contracts we earned and deserve.”